Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: Landon Ferraro was the leading scorer for the Red Deer Rebels in his second WHL season and skated for Canada at the 2009 U18 World Junior Championship. Playing on a Rebels team that finished last in the Central Division, missing the WHL playoffs, he scored 37 goals with 18 assists and was minus-23 with 99 penalty minutes in 68 games. He skated in 5 of 6 games for Canada at the U18 WJC, scoring 2 goals with 2 assists, and was plus-four with 2 penalty minutes. Canada won its first four games but finished fourth after losing to the USA in the semifinals and Finland in the bronze medal game. Ranked 18th amongst North American prospects in Central Scouting’s final rankings, Ferraro was selected by Detroit in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.

2009-10: Ferraro made his pro hockey debut as a 19-year old; appearing in two April games with AHL Grand Rapids following his WHL season with the Rebels. He was scoreless with no penalty minutes and recorded two shots on goal in his brief stint with the Griffins. Missing time early in the season for Red Deer due to a knee injury, Ferraro scored 16 goals with 30 assists in 53 games and was minus-18 with 55 penalty minutes. The much-improved Rebels made the WHL playoffs after finishing fourth in the Central Division. Ferraro played in 3 of the 4 games in the series with Saskatoon and was scoreless and minus-two with 2 penalty minutes.

2010-11: Ferraro endured a difficult final season in junior hockey after signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings in November 2010. Traded to Everett over the summer and named team captain, he got off to a slow start offensively. After getting hot in January he suffered a sports hernia injury. He finished the season with 10 goals and 17 assists in 41 games and was minus-one with 51 penalty minutes. Everett made the playoffs after finishing fourth in the U.S. Division. Ferraro had 3 assists and was minus-two with 13 penalty minutes in the four-game series with Portland.

2011-12: Ferraro had a solid, if not spectacular, first season of pro hockey playing in the AHL as a 20-year-old. Playing a sound, two-way game, he scored 9 goals with 11 assists and was minus-six with 47 penalty minutes in 56 games for the Red Wings’ affiliate Grand Rapids. He did not see any post-season action as the Griffins failed to make the AHL playoffs; finishing fourth in the North Division.

2012-13: Ferraro was the third-leading scorer for Detroit AHL affiliate Grand Rapids in his second pro season. He scored a team-high 24 goals with 23 assists in 72 games and was +6 with 44 penalty minutes. The Griffins finished first in the Midwest Division and captured the Calder Cup championship. Ferraro scored 5 goals with 11 assists in 24 playoff games and was an even plus/minus with 11 penalty minutes.

2013-14: Ferraro made his NHL debut with Detroit in a March 18th game against the Maple Leafs — skating in four late season games with the Red Wings — spending most of the season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. He had no points and an even plus/minus with 2 penalty minutes with Detroit. Ferraro scored 15 goals with 16 assists and was -3 with 52 penalty minutes in 70 games for Grand Rapids. The Griffins finished second in the Midwest Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Ferraro scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -4 with 2 penalty minutes in nine playoff games. He was tendered a qualifying offer by Detroit and re-signed to a one-year contract as a restricted free agent in July 2014.

2014-15: Ferraro joined the Red Wings late in the season — skating in three regular season games and seven playoff contests — and was the second-leading goal scorer for Detroit AHL affiliate Grand Rapids behind Teemu Pulkkinen. In his fourth year of pro hockey he scored his first NHL goal (and only point to-date) in the season finale against Carolina. Ferraro averaged 10 minutes of ice time and was -2 with 2 penalty minutes in seven playoff games. Ferraro scored 27 goals with 15 assists and was +14 with 61 penalty minutes in 70 regular season games for Grand Rapids. The Griffins finished first in the Midwest Division and reached the Western Conference Finals against Utica.

Talent Analysis

Ferraro is the son of former NHL player Ray Ferraro, He is well schooled on what it takes to be a professional hockey player and is a leader on and off the ice. Intelligent and articulate, he was one of the fastest players available for the 2009 NHL Draft. He is a shooter first and foremost, though he can make plays to set up teammates. Ferraro is a tenacious forward and does not quit on plays. He is not big but is strong and likes to battle for position in front of the net but has a knack for getting open in the slot too.

Future

Ferraro made the Red Wings out of training camp in 2015-16, skating in 10 games with Detroit before being placed on waivers in November and being claimed by the Boston Bruins. After missing eight games due to a knee injury when he first joined Boston, he has skated in a regular role as a fourth line center. Ferraro's offensive potential appears limited but his work ethic and competitiveness provide value as a lower line forward.

Photo: Calle Jarnkrok, playing in his first AHL season out of Sweden, joined a deep and talented pool of forwards developing with Detroit’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI)

It has been a gradual change, but most things associated with the Detroit Red Wings work that way. In a salary-cap constrained hockey landscape, Detroit can no longer simply outspend other franchises; Detroit knew this eight seasons ago and began to stockpile talent through the NHL Draft.

Photo: Gustav Nyquist is poised for full-time duty in Detroit after strong playoff runs in both the NHL and in Grand Rapids, which won the 2013 Calder Cup (courtesy of Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)

They are not prominent, but if you pay close attention the signs are all there. Cars left out overnight have dew on the windows, a few leaves are scattered beneath certain trees, and school supplies are pushed to the front of most stores; Fall is just around the corner. With Fall comes another hockey season, this time for every level of hockey (NHL included).

Photo: Center Joakim Andersson was a steady presence for the Red Wings during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and has since rejoined Grand Rapids in the Calder Cup Finals (courtesy of Tony Ding/Icon SMI)

Playoff success may be the Detroit Red Wings' calling card, but this season it was not just the NHL club that experienced an extended postseason run. The Red Wings took the Chicago Blackhaws to seven games before bowing out in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and this may have been a blessing in disguise for Detroit. A number of players were able to be sent down to the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, who are having the most notable playoff run in the organization; they are currently battling the Syracuse Crunch for the Calder Cup and hold a 2-0 series advantage after a pair of road victories to begin the series. Red Wings prospects also had significant success in the NCAA Tournament and the Mastercard Memorial Cup tournament.

Photo: Rookie goaltender Petr Mrazek has made a great first impression at the pro level, taking the reins in AHL Grand Rapids and even earning a call-up to Detroit (courtesy of Brad Rempel/Icon SMI)

Spring is just around the corner, and as the weather heats up so too does the on-ice action in leagues around the world. As we reach the end of the season in junior hockey and the stretch run in professional hockey we pause to look back at how prospects in the Detroit Red Wings organization have progressed since the puck first dropped last fall.